by Jim Proctor

TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT

by H.M. AChuck@ Place

 Infrastructure

 Last month I started a series of three articles discussing the town=s three separate utility systems - water, wastewater and hydro-electric.  I pointed out that there has been a lot of talk around town hall recently about Ainfrastructure@ (facilities and services needed to sustain residential, commercial and all other land use activities).  The zoning and planning board has been concerned that new development may outstrip the towns ability to provide services, such as water and sewer; and at their January meeting the council adopted new regulations regarding provision of water infrastructure in new subdivisions. I highlighted the water system in the February issue and will describe  the hydro-electric operation in the next issue.

 Wastewater System

The town owns the wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 995,000 GPD and lift (pump) station) located below the dam; about 28 miles of collection lines, mostly under the lake and about 75 manholes, 54 of which are at lake shoreline.  Our plant serves a total of 858 customers (434 of whom are served by a private collection system owned by the Carolina Water System within Lake Lure Golf & Beach Resort, Apple Valley and Shumont Estates under contract with the Fairfield Mountains Property Owners Association).   Portions of the Village of Chimney Rock have access to our plant through a county owned 8" collection system.  Treatment is similar to water treatment plant with chemical additives (alum) and chlorination.  Actual use is about 700,000 gallons per day (GPD) at peak flows, 3/4 of which is lake water from infiltration.  By the way, because of the pressure of the lake waters on the pipe (up to 100 feet below the surface), leaks, such as bad joints, do not cause effluent to flow into the lake, lake water flows into the pipes.

This is a most unusual system in that it was created at a time when few homes had access to any form of treatment other than a lime pit under an out house.  Those rare homes with indoor plumbing had the sewerage piped directly into nearby streams to be washed away.  The prevalent feeling back then was Athe solution to pollution is dilution.@  When Dr. Morse and his investment partners conceived of the real estate project surrounding a beautiful lake that was to become the Town of Lake Lure back in the mid-twenties, they did not want raw sewerage despoiling the pristine recreational waters of Lake Lure.  Therefore, they constructed a network of sewer mains along the bottom of the area that was to be flooded connected to a series of manholes along the future shoreline to serve the large lots that would be created.  These pipes joined together and ran under the new dam where the final pipe opened directly into the Broad River.  This lasted until the Federal government outlawed this form of Astraight piping@ in the early sixties and the successors to the developers were required to build a treatment plant.  The open pipe was connected to a pump which forced the effluent up to the level of the new plant on the bank of the river, downstream of the dam.  The town government eventually purchased the entire system, along with the lake, from the private owner in 1964 and has operated it ever since.

There are problems of age and inaccessibility of lines under lake, difficulty of accessing manholes at lake=s edge due to private property, infiltration of lake water into system, and the age and condition of plant.  We have applied several times for grants for repair and replacement of facilities and equipment, but have not been successful to date.  Infiltration of lake water into the lines is a major problem which is being remedied through a program of wrapping the joints of the underwater mains with a special fiberglass material by hard hat divers.  The infiltration was reduced last year by about 100,000 GPD through this program meaning we now have that much additional useable capacity. 

The lift station built in the sixties was badly damaged during the 1996 flood by water pouring over the dam.  That station has now been replaced by a new facility built up out of the flood plain at a cost of $409,000 using funds provided by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

We also have a problem in that the majority of manholes are adjacent to privately owned land and it is very difficult for people gaining access to those manholes to connect new buildings.  We are exploring the possibility of acquiring easements from the shore to the nearest road so that we can construct manholes for general access.

At present, most of the area served by our wastewater system is either along the shoreline or in the Fairfield POA area.  It is our goal to provide access to as much of the rest of the community as possible in the future.

  

TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC

REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, February 12, 2002, 7:00 p.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

   Under the Aconsent agenda,@ Council:

 * approved the minutes of January 14, 2002 (regular meeting);

   In other activities, Town Council:

 * heard a committee report from Bill Bush on the progress and status of the Diamond Jubilee for 2002;

 * approved bid from Terrence Duffy to purchase town property in the amount of $15,000;

 * rescinded Ordinance No. 01-11-13D regarding delayed harvest (catch and release) for all fishing within Lake Lure;

 * adopted Ordinance No. 02-02-12 amending Chapter 94, The Lake Structures Regulations, Lake Lure Code of Ordinances, to require surveys for certain lake structures within the town;

  * adopted Ordinance No. 02-12-12A amending Chapter 40, Lake Lure Code of Ordinances, to regulate the naming of streets within the town;

 * appointed Tracy Shepard to serve on the Lake Lure Golf Course Advisory Committee;

 * adopted Resolution No. 02-02-12 (Policies and schedule of tap fees and meter installation charges for connection to the water system of the Town of Lake Lure);

 * approved a budget amendment of $5,000 for the Lake Lure Police Department to purchase computers;

 * approved a budget amendment of $3,300 to purchase a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban truck;

 * approved a equipment lease-purchase agreement between the Town of Lake Lure and the Bill=s Creek Volunteer Fire Department;

 * authorized the Mayor to sign as representative for the town an agreement on behalf of the Town of Lake Lure pertaining to water and wastewater appropriation for Rutherford County; 

* reviewed a letter received from Dr. Timothy Pennell regarding boat permits; and

 *  held closed session meeting: (1) discussion on matters involving attorney client privilege under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3); (2) discussion on matters involving attorney client privilege under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) regarding ongoing litigation between Fairfield Mountains POA, Rutherford County, and the Town of Lake Lure; and (3) discussion on a personnel matter under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5) & (6).

 

COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS

by Chief Mike Bustle

 Whether you realize it or not on a personal level, life for everyone changed on September 11, 2001.  Our elected and military leaders have asked us to be more alert and aware during our day-to-day activities.  We must no longer be satisfied with a level of alertness that maintains our personal well being, but increase our alertness concerning the well-being of the entire country.

    All Americans, whether they are in New York City or the Hickory Nut Gorge, should look for things that are out of the ordinary or seem unusual. This new heightened awareness is demonstrated when anything is observed to be abnormal. If you observe anything abnormal, report it to the police. We should dismiss the feelings that we are over-reacting or might be bothering someone.

     Please help your fellow countrymen and local police maintain the safety and security of the Town of Lake Lure by enhancing your awareness of surroundings as we live in the most beautiful area of our world.

 

TOWN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

by Betty Hinson, Personnel Director

Monica Stofer, employee of  the month, began her employment with the town on July 30, 2001.  Prior to employment with the town, Monica was a part time employee with Greenhill Store, and a full time employee with Rutherford Hospital.  Monica is a native of Arizona but relocated to North Carolina in 1993 and graduated from R.S. Central High School.           Monica=s position with the town is that of Code Enforcement Clerk.  Her duties are varied and many.  She assists our Zoning Administrator, Terri Potts, fills in at our front desk, and serves as editor and coordinator for our monthly newsletter.

Monica, her husband John and daughter Taylor reside on Cove Road in Rutherfordton.  Monica is never to busy to give her co-workers a helping hand and always with a smile.  We say thank you Monica for a great job.

 POLICE TRAINING

by Sgt. R.W. Tullis

 I am pleased to report that the members of the Lake Lure Police Department completed a cumulative total of 1,034 hours of training for the year 2001.  The department is constantly striving for unprecedented professionalism and one way to achieve that, of course, is through professional training.

The members of this department have demonstrated their dedication to law enforcement through their pursuit of training in excess of what is currently mandated by the state.  The state mandates that a law enforcement officer complete only 24 hours of in-service training each year to maintain his or her certification.  Those hours are further controlled and designated to certain blocks of instruction:

 

4 hours-Hazardous Materials

4 hours-Blood Borne Pathogens

8 hours-Juvenile/Minority Sensitivity

4 hours-Firearms Qualification

 Our officers completed, on average, approximately 130 hours per officer.  What is also of great significance is that absolutely none of this training came at a cost to the Town of Lake Lure.  The close proximity of the North Carolina Justice Academy makes it an invaluable resource for our officers as well as the department.  I hope we can continue the trend we have set and make our department truly one of the most professional departments in the state.

 

 

  YEAR 2002 BOAT PERMIT UPDATES

by Anita Taylor, Customer Service Supervisor/Deputy Town Clerk

The boat permits for Year 2002 have been ordered and are expected to arrive within four to six weeks.  We will keep you updated through the newsletter and local ADaily Courier@ Newspaper.  The boating fees remained the same as last year.  Please be aware that Town of Lake Lure Property owners and residents qualify for the resident annual water vessel permit provided that not more than three permits for motorized water vessels may be issued per developed lot or one permit per undeveloped lot to the owners or residents of any lot or parcel without approval by the Town Council. A developed lot shall be a lot whereon a residence or business building is constructed.  Anyone wishing to obtain a permit after they have met their limit can obtain additional permits provided they pay the non-resident rate.  The spouse of a property owner shall qualify for a water vessel permit at the resident rate.  Non-resident children and other relatives do not qualify for permits at the resident rate.

 Reminder: It is required that in order to obtain a boat permit you must present your current state registration card.  Please do not ask us to make any exceptions since this is a requirement.

  

UPPER BROAD RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM

by Pamela Pyles, Erosion Control Specialist

Don=t Miss Your Opportunity for Hydroseeding

 The Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program (UBRWP) is a group of local citizens including professional assistance affiliated with Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation and Development, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Town of Lake Lure, Chimney Rock Village, Environmental Quality Institute, and residents of Hickory Nut Gorge. This partnership is developed through watershed meetings that include guest presentations, water quality reports, and progress reports on UBRWP Programs.  Our programs are voluntary participation and non-regulatory.  UBRWP received North Carolina State funding from Clean Water Management Trust Fund and from the Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 grant to restore and maintain water quality within the Upper Broad River Watershed. 

Our vision statement is: Protecting Soil and Water Resources through Watershed Education and Program Participation.  We accomplish these goals by providing information, technical support, and financial reimbursements.  Our programs range from financial assistance in implementing erosion control measures on existing eroding sites, low interest loans for new construction, stream bank restoration that include free Riparian Tree Kits, and Riparian Conservation Easements.

Participants in the Upper Broad River Cost Share are provided with on-site technical assistance that include a detailed written Conservation Plans outlining erosion control measures to stabilize existing eroding sites.  We work with grading and hydroseeding contractors installing erosion control measures for property owners.  Cost Share participants receive financial reimbursement between 50% and 100% of actual costs.  

We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work with property owners who have an existing erosion problem.  The erosion on your property must have been a problem prior to October 18^th, 1999.  If you have an eroded hillside, road bank, eroded gully, or any other erosion problem we can help you withYgive us a call.  Don=t miss the opportunity to participate in our Cost Share Program.  Right now we will cover the cost of hydroseeding working with one of our hydroseeding professionals.  We will hydroseed your eroded site for you. Property owners participating must agree to a maintenance contract.  You will need to fertilize the area once a year for 4 years and at the end of the 5-year contract you will be required to lime the site.  If this interests youY..give us a call and we will set an appointment to come to your property.

Please call Pamela Pyles at the Town of Lake Lure for information on our programs at (828) 625-9983, ext. 123.  You may visit us on the web at: www.rfci.net//ubrwp or email us at: ubrwp@rfci.net.  Come participate in our next Watershed Protection meeting on March 13^th at 9:00 a.m. at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center and meet other conservation minded folks.  We welcome your suggestions, comments, and participation.

 

GOLF COURSE NEWS

by Chris Shute, Golf Course Manager

All the staff at the golf course want to thank residents and visitors alike for an outstanding winter.  We have had an amount of play to surpass all other winters.  Part of that was due to the weather and part was due to the lowered winter rates.  We had never had winter rates before, but you can be sure we will have them in the future.  Rates will now go back to what they were last year for March through November.  We have institued a  new discount in rates for this time period, that we have also never had before.  We are going to have a package called A4-PLAY@.  This package will be sold at the rate of 4 18-hole rounds of golf for the price of 3.  These package rounds may be played Monday through Thursday and will be good March 1, 2002 through November 30, 2002.  These package rounds may not be played on weekends or holidays.  No rainchecks on these package rounds and no refunds for unplayed rounds. 

So with all that said, our current prices are:

Weekdays

Cart(incl. tax) Greens Total

Mon-Thurs.

9 Holes $6.40 $8.00 $14.40

18 Holes $10.65 $11.00 $21.65

Seniors-55+

Mon-Thurs.

9 Holes $6.40 $7.00 $13.40

18 Holes $7.50 $8.00 $15.50

Weekends/Holidays

Fri- Sun.

9 Holes $7.50 $10.00 $17.50

18 Holes $11.75 $14.00 $25.75

 4-Play Package

 Includes 4 18-hole rounds with cart and all taxes.

Days to play: Monday-Thursday, March-November 2002.

 Memberships:    Single      Family of 2     Addit.

 Annual               $200.00       $300.00       $50.00

Semi-Annual      $150.00       $200.00       $40.00